Mine roof drilling,bolting and plating machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof is provided with a boom for supporting a plate against the mine roof while the bolt hole is being drilled and an expansion bolt installed.

United States Patent [1 1 .Wi11is et a1.

[111 3,842,610 .1451 Oct.22,1974

MINE ROOF DRILLING, BOLTING AND PLATING MACHINE lnventors: Earl C. Willis, Harrisburgh; Ramon A. Gothard, Mascoutah, both of 111.

Assignee: Peabody Coal Company, St. Louis,

Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 Appl. No: 317,116

US. Cl 61/63, 173/38, 173/43, 173/46, 173/52 Int. C1. E21c 11/02, E2ld 20/00, E2ld 21/00 Field of Search 61/45 R, 45 D, 63, 45 B; 173/43, 38, 34, 37, 46

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1956 Joy 173/46 X 10/1956 Hale 173/43 12/1967 Rowe et a1 173/43 4/1968 Py1es et a1 173/38 X 2/1972 Mays 173/46 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor ABSTRACT A machine for drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof is provided with a boom for supporting a plate against the mine roof while the bolt hole is being driiled and an expansion bolt installed.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures A AM):

MINE ROOF DRILLING, BOLTING AND PLATING MACHINE FIELD OF INVENTION Tool Driving And Impacting, Swinging Arm Causes Advance With Meansto Guide Rectilinear Tool Advance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In coal mining, one of the more serious hazards is from falling chunks of coal which crack off from the mine roof. Fortuitously, overlying a coal seam there is generally a layer of solid rock, such as limestone, to which roof plates can be bolted. For many years it has been the practice to drill a bolt hole through the coal suitable expansion bolts, and quite a few machines have been devised for drilling bolt holes in mine roofs. Usually, such machines include a chassis having one or two booms projecting forwardly from the front end. On the free end of the boom is a power-driven chuck in which the shank of a rock drill is placed. Parallelogram linkage is provided for keeping the chuck axis pointed upwardly as the free end of the boom is moved upwardly, and, in most instances, a sliding .pivot for the inner end of the boom, plus suitable constraining linkage, causes the outer end of the boom to be moved straight upwardly, rather than about an arc, while the drill is being driven into the mine roof. Such machines are disclosed in, for example, the US. Pat. Nos. to Bettz 2,815,191

OBJECTS The object of this invention is to provide a mine roof bolt hole drilling machine with a means for holding a plate against the mine roof. In accordance with these objections, the plate, which has a pre-formed hole therethrough, may either be held up against the mine holding boom be rotatable so that'the plate, which is usually rectangular, can be oriented in any direction.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the mine roof drilling, bolting and plating machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine showing a plate-holding boom thereof elevated;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a boom frame, the drill chuck and plate-holding booms, their associated mountings, linkage and actuating mechanisms;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the boom assemblies;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section showing the sliding pivot mounting for the inner ends of the booms;

FIG. 6 shows the drill chuck assemblies;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the machine with a boom assembly positioned for moving to a drilling site;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation showing the machine with its foot in place, and the plate-holding boom ready to receive a plate;

FIG. 9 shows the machine with the plate-holding boom moved upwardly towards the mine roof;

, FIG. 10 shows the machine with its plate-holding boom pressing a plate against the mine roof, and with the drill chuck ready to receive the lower end of a rock drill; 1

FIG. 11 shows the drill-chuck boom advanced upwardly from its FIG. 10 position at the completion of the anchor bolt hole drilling operation; and, I FIG.- 12 is a fragmentary cross-section showing a typical anchor bolt and plate installed in a mine roof.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the mine roof bolting and plating machine'2 comprises a chassis 4 with wheels 6 which roll along the ground. The chassis 4 contains motorsfor propulsion and pumping, pumps roof while the bolt hole is being drilled or, alternatively, I

the bolt hole can be drilled and then the plate pressed against the mine roof while the anchor bolt is being installed.

More specifically, the object now is to provide, in addition to the boom which supports the drill chuck, an

additional boom which, on its outer end, has a platform which supports the plate on the outer end of the plateand controls which are not shown because they form no part of this invention. On the front end of the chassis are two turrets 8 which support two identical boom assemblies 10. Since these assemblies are identical, only one will be described. Referring briefly to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a mine roof 12 typically having a layer of coal l4 overlain by a layer 16 of solid rock, such as limestone. The function of this machine is to drill a bolt hole 18 upwardly through the layer of coal and into the limestone and to install against the surface of the coal aplate 20 which is held in place by a mine roof anchor bolt 22. Typically such a bolt has an expansion head 24 on the upper end which engages into the limestone and holds it in place and, on its lower end, a nutand washer assembly 26 which clamps plate 20 up against the mine roof.

Each boom assembly includes a frame 28 pivotally supported as at 30 on a turret. Means (not shown) are provided for rotating the turret, and the frame can be swung upwardly and downwardly by means of a hy- 'draulic ram 32, one end of which is pivoted as at 33 to an arm 34 on turret 8 and the piston rod of which is pivoted as at 35 to the frame. On the lower end of frame 28 is foot plate 36 which is raised above the ground when the machine is moved about (FIG. 7), and which rests against the floor 37 of the mine when the machine is readyfor work, as in FIGS. 2, 3, 8-11.

Associated with each frame 28 is a drill chuck assembly denoted generally at 38 and comprising two pairs of parallel beams 40 and 42 pivoted as at 44 and 46 to opposite sides of a chuck casing 48. The inner ends of the beams are pivoted as at 50 and 52 to plates 54. The beams, chuck casing, plates and pivots constitute a deformable parallelogram wherein the chuck casing 48 always remains upright, regardless of the upward or downward swinging of the free end of the assembly. Plates 54 are supported by sliding pivots, i.e., rollers 56 which roll in channels 58 on the inner sides of the frame 28. The purpose of this and the elements described immediately below is to permit the drill bit chuck 48 to move upwardly along a straight line, rather than along an are, when the drill chuck assembly 38 is elevated. This is accomplished by means of link 60 pivoted as at 62 to boom frame .28 and as at 64 to the hydraulic ram cylinder 66 whose piston rod 68 has a pivotal connection 70 with the foot plate 38 of frame 28. Ram 66, of course, moves the outer end of boom 38 upwardly and downwardly.

Referring to FIG. 6, chuck casing 48 contains a chuck 72 rotated by a motor 74. Above the chuck is a split guide collar 76 composed of a fixed half cylinder 78 and a movable half cylinder 80 pivotally supported on a post 82 and actuated between open and closed po* sitions by a hydraulic ram 84. It will be seen that when a rock drill 86 (FIG. is inserted into chuck 72 and held upright by the closing of split guide collar 76, the drill may be rotated by chuck 72 and forced upwardly into the mine roof by moving the drill chuck assembly 48 upwardly. It will also be apparent that the drillchuck boom assembly 48 is useful for forcing an expansion bolt upwardly into the hole in the mine roof after the hole has been drilled. All of the foregoing, in one form or another, is old.

The improvement with which this invention is concerned is the plate-supporting boom 88 which holds an apertured plate against themine roof 12 while hole 18 is being drilled and while anchor bolt 22 is being installed. Boom 88 is formed by two parallel bars 90 held in parallelism by transverse channels 92 which are welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. Spanning the outer ends of bars 90 is a half-circular or U-shape outer end piece 94 pivoted as at 96 to the bars 90 for turning about an axis transverse to the length of the boom. The inner ends of bars 90 are connected by pivots 98 to plates 100, 101, the plates being supported by rollers 102 in channels 104 on the inner sides of frame plates 59. As in the case of the drill chuck boom assembly 38, the free end of the plate-supporting boom 88 moves along a straight line upwardly and downwardly, rather than on an arc, when the plate-supporting boom is raised or lowered. This is accomplished by the sliding pivot assembly, i.e., pivot 98 and rollers 102 and links 106 which are pivoted at their opposite ends to the frame 28 and to bars 90 as shown at 108 and 110. Plate-supporting boom 88 is raised and lowered by a double-ended hydraulic ram 112 whose oppositely directed piston rods 114, 116 are pivoted as at 118 to a plate 120 which extends between bars 90 and as at 122 to footplate 36. It will be apparent that, when piston rods 114, 116 are retracted, the free end of platesupporting boom 88 will be lowered (FIG. 8) and, when the piston rods 114, 116 are extended, the free end of plate-suporting boom 88 will be raised (FIG. 10).

free end of the plate-supporting boom 88 is a ring 124 which, in turn, rotatably supports an annular platform 126. Ring 124 and platform 126 are maintained horizontal, or nearly so, by means of a rod 128 pivoted as at 130 to ring 124. Near the inner end of rod 128 is a plunger 132 which reciprocates in cylinder 134, and which is normally centered by centering springs 136, 138. Cylinder 134 is connected by a pivot 140 to an offset member 142 which is connected to plate 101. Since plate 101 is supported by the two rollers 102 in channels 104 in frame sides 59, the plane of platform 126 will always be maintained parallel to the direction of the channels; and, when the channels are horizontal, platform 126 is horizontal. The action of centering springs 136, 138 is to permit platform 126 to tip somewhat about pivot 96 and thereby accommodate itself to inclinations or irregularities in the mine roof.

In operation, plate-supporting boom-88 is lowered and a plate 20 having an aperture 144 therethrough is placed upon rotatably platform 126 (FIG. 8). The plate-supporting boom is then raised (FIGS. 9 and 10) to press plate 20 against mine roof 12; rock drill 86 is placed in chuck 72; split guide collar 76 is closed; the free end of drill chuck boom 38 is raised so as to move the cutting endof drill bit 86 up through the hole 144 in plate 20 and against the mine roof 14, whereupon chuck 72 is rotated by a motor 74 until bolt hole is drilled through the coal seam and up into the rock seam 16. Thereupon drill chuck boom 38 is lowered, withdrawing rock drill 86 which is removed and an expansion bolt 22 is inserted through opening 144 in plate 20 and in the bolt hole 18. When the upper end 24 of expansion bolt 22 has been firmly imbedded in the rock Supported by a U-shape outer end piece 94 on the 6 16, a bolt and washer assembly 26 is installed in the lower end of the anchor bolt to hold plate 20 tightly against the mine roof. The rotatability of annular platform 126 permits plate 20 to be oriented in the desired direction before being clamped against the mine roof. After the foregoing drilling and plating operations have been completed in one location, the booms are returned to their FIG. 7 position and frame 28 is swung upwardly to raise foot plate 36 off the ground and the machine is moved to another drilling and plate installing location.

I claim:

1. In a machine for installing. a plate on a mine roof,

a chassis having means supporting the same for movement along the ground,

a first boom,

means mounting one end of said first boom on said chassis for raising and lowering movement of the other end thereof relative to the chassis,

means for raising and lowering said other end of said a plate support comprising a platform member having an aperture therethrough for permittingan anchor bolt topass generally vertically therethrough,

means mounting said platform on said other end of said first boom,

a second boom,

means mounting one end of the second boom on said chassis below the mounting of the first boom thereon for raising and lowering of the other end of the second boom relative to the chassis and the first boom,

means for raising and lowering said other end of the second boom independently of the raising and low ering of the first boom,

and a drill chuck on the other end of the second boom, said drill chuck being disposed below and in vertical alignment with the aperture in the plate support.

2. In a machine for installing a plate on a mine roof,

a chassis having means supporting the same for movement along the ground,

a, first boom,

means mounting one end of said boom on said chassis for raising and lowering movement of the other end of the boom relative to the chassis,

means for raising and lowering said other end of said boom,

and a plate support comprising a platform member having an aperture therethrough for permitting an anchor bolt to pass generally vertically there through,

and means mounting said platform on said other end of said boom,

a second boom disposed below the first boom,

means mounting one end of the second boom on said chassis,

the means mounting one end of said boom on the chassis comprising,

a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis,

a frame,

means mounting said frame on said turret,

sliding pivot means mounting said one end of said boom on said frame for sliding movement in a generally horizontal direction,

and linkage connecting said boom and constraining the boom against movement other than that in which said other end thereof moves in a substantially straight line.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, said frame having a ground-engaging foot thereon,

the means mounting said frame on said turret comprising a horizontal pivot,

and motor means engaged between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said horizontal pivot so as to raise and lower said foot from and onto the ground-,

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, the means for raising and lowering the other end of said boom comprising motor means engaged between said frame and said boom.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3, the means mounting said platform on said other end of said boom comprising a pivot providing rotation of said platform about an axis transverse to the length of. the boom,

and linkage connecting the platform to said frame-for maintaining the platform in substantially fixed orientation about said pivot with respect to the frame.

6. The combination claimed in claim 1, the means mounting said platform on said other end of said boom comprising a support member,

pivot means mounting said support member on said other end of said boom for pivoting about a first axis transverse to the length of the boom,

and having the other end thereof disposed towards said one end of said boom,

and means yieldably connecting the other end of said rod to said frame.

9. A machine for installing a plate on a mine roof comprising, in combination,

a chassis,

a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis,

a frame mounted on said turret for swinging about a first horizontal axis, v

means connected between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said first horizontal axis,

a first boom having inner and outer ends, sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said first boom for pivoting about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis and for sliding movement in a first direction transverse to said horizontal axis,

means engaged between said frame and first boom for raisingand lowering'the outer end thereof,

means engaged between said frame and first boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along a substantially straight line,

drill chuck means on the outer end of said first boom,

a second boom disposed above the first boom and having inner and outer ends,

second sliding pivot means mounting said second boom on said frame for swinging the second boom about a third horizontal axisparallel to the first and second horizontal axes, and for sliding movement in a second direction parallel to the first direction,

means engaged between the frame and second boom for raising and lowering the outer end thereof,

means engaged between the frame and second-boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along the same straight line of movement of the outer end of the first boom, I and means on the outer end of the second boom for supporting a roof plate thereon.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, the means for supporting a plate on the outer end of the first boom including a platform having therethrough an aperture for permitting passage therethrough of arock drill and anchor bolt. v

1 1. In the combination claimed in claim 10, a support for said platform, and means mounting said support on the outer end of said boom for pivoting about an axis transverse to the length of the boom and parallel to the first and second horizontal axes.

12. In the combination claimed in claim 11, means connected between said frame and support for maintaining the latter in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the direction of sliding of said second sliding pivot means.

13. In the combination claimed in claim 12, rotary bearing means mounting said platform on said support for rotation of said platform about a second vertical 14. A machine for installing a plate on a mine roof comprising, in combination,

a chassis,

a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis,

a frame mounted on said turret for swinging about a first horizontal axix,

a ground-engaging foot on said frame,

a first hydraulic ram connected between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said first horizontal axis between a lower position in which said foot engages the ground and an elevated position in which the foot is disposed above the ground,

a first boom having inner and outer ends,

a first sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said first boom for pivoting about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis and for sliding movement in a first direction transverse to said horizontal axis,

a second hydraulic ram engaged between said frame and first boom for raising and lower the outer end thereof,

link means engaged between said frame and first boom for constraining the latter against swinging means, drill chuck means on the outer end of said first boom,

a second boom disposed above the first boom and having inner and outer ends,

second sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said second boom on said frame for swinging the second boom about a third horizontal axis parallel to the first and second horizontal axes, and for sliding movement in a second direction parallel to the first direction,

third hydraulic ram means engaged between the frame and second boom for raising and lowering the outer end thereof,

link means engaged between the frame and second boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along the same straight line of movement of the outer end of the first boom,

means on the outer end of the second boom for supporting a roof plate thereon,

including a platform having therethrough an aperture for permitting passage therethrough of a rock drill or anchor bolt engaged in said drill chuck means,

a support for said platform, and means mounting said support on the outer end of said boom for pivoting about a horizontal-axis transverse to the length of the boom and parallel to the first and second horizontal axes,

means connected between said frame and support for maintaining the latter in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the direction of sliding of said second sliding pivot means, and rotary bearing means mounting said platform on said support for rotation of said platform about a second vertical ZiXlS. 

1. In a machine for installing a plate on a mine roof, a chassis having means supporting the same for movement along the ground, a first boom, means mounting one end of said first boom on said chassis for raising and lowering movement of the other end thereof relative to the chassis, means for raising and lowering said other end of said first boom, a plate support comprising a platform member having an aperture therethrough for permitting an anchor bolt to pass generally vertically therethrough, means mounting said platform on said other end of said first boom, a second boom, means mounting one end of the second boom on said chassis below the mounting of the first boom thereon for raising and lowering of the other end of the second boom relative to the chassis and the first boom, means for raising and lowering said other end of the second boom independently of the raising and lowering of the first boom, and a drill chuck on the other end of the second boom, said drill chuck being disposed below and in vertical alignment with the aperture in the plate support.
 2. In a machine for installing a plate on a mine roof, a chassis having means supporting the same for movement along the ground, a first boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said chassis for raising and lowering movement of the other end of the boom relative to the chassis, means for raising and lowering said other end of said boom, and a plate support comprising a platform member having an aperture therethrough for permitting an anchor bolt to pass generally vertically therethrough, and means mounting said platform on said other end of said boom, a second boom disposed below the first boom, means mounting one end of the second boom on said chassis, the means mounting one end of said boom on the chassis comprising, a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame, means mounting said frame on said turret, sliding pivot means mounting said one end of said boom on said frame for sliding movement in a generally horizontal direction, and linkage connecting said boom and constraining the boom against movement other than that in which said other end thereof moves in a substantially straight line.
 3. The combination claimed in claim 2, said frame having a ground-engaging foot thereon, the means mounting said frame on said turret comprising a horizontal pivot, and motor means engaged between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said horizontal pivot so as to raise and lower said foot from and onto the ground.
 4. The combination claimed in claim 3, the means for raising and lowering the other end of said boom comprising motor means engaged between said frame and said boom.
 5. The combination claimed in claim 3, the means mountiNg said platform on said other end of said boom comprising a pivot providing rotation of said platform about an axis transverse to the length of the boom, and linkage connecting the platform to said frame for maintaining the platform in substantially fixed orientation about said pivot with respect to the frame.
 6. The combination claimed in claim 1, the means mounting said platform on said other end of said boom comprising a support member, pivot means mounting said support member on said other end of said boom for pivoting about a first axis transverse to the length of the boom, and rotary bearing means mounting said platform on said support member for rotation about a second axis transverse to the first axis.
 7. The combination claimed in claim 6, and means providing restrained pivotal movement of said first support means about said transverse axis.
 8. The combination claimed in claim 5, the means providing restrained pivotal movement of said first support means about said transverse axis comprising a rod having one end pivoted to said first support means, and having the other end thereof disposed towards said one end of said boom, and means yieldably connecting the other end of said rod to said frame.
 9. A machine for installing a plate on a mine roof comprising, in combination, a chassis, a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame mounted on said turret for swinging about a first horizontal axis, means connected between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said first horizontal axis, a first boom having inner and outer ends, sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said first boom for pivoting about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis and for sliding movement in a first direction transverse to said horizontal axis, means engaged between said frame and first boom for raising and lowering the outer end thereof, means engaged between said frame and first boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along a substantially straight line, drill chuck means on the outer end of said first boom, a second boom disposed above the first boom and having inner and outer ends, second sliding pivot means mounting said second boom on said frame for swinging the second boom about a third horizontal axis parallel to the first and second horizontal axes, and for sliding movement in a second direction parallel to the first direction, means engaged between the frame and second boom for raising and lowering the outer end thereof, means engaged between the frame and second boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along the same straight line of movement of the outer end of the first boom, and means on the outer end of the second boom for supporting a roof plate thereon.
 10. The combination claimed in claim 9, the means for supporting a plate on the outer end of the first boom including a platform having therethrough an aperture for permitting passage therethrough of a rock drill and anchor bolt.
 11. In the combination claimed in claim 10, a support for said platform, and means mounting said support on the outer end of said boom for pivoting about an axis transverse to the length of the boom and parallel to the first and second horizontal axes.
 12. In the combination claimed in claim 11, means connected between said frame and support for maintaining the latter in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the direction of sliding of said second sliding pivot means.
 13. In the combination claimed in claim 12, rotary bearing means mounting said platform on said support for rotation of said platform about a second vertical axis.
 14. A machine for installing a plate on a mine roof comprisIng, in combination, a chassis, a turret mounted on said chassis for rotation about a vertical axis, a frame mounted on said turret for swinging about a first horizontal axix, a ground-engaging foot on said frame, a first hydraulic ram connected between said turret and frame for swinging the latter about said first horizontal axis between a lower position in which said foot engages the ground and an elevated position in which the foot is disposed above the ground, a first boom having inner and outer ends, a first sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said first boom for pivoting about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis and for sliding movement in a first direction transverse to said horizontal axis, a second hydraulic ram engaged between said frame and first boom for raising and lower the outer end thereof, link means engaged between said frame and first boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in shich the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along a substantially straight line while the inner end thereof pivots and slides on the first sliding pivot means, drill chuck means on the outer end of said first boom, a second boom disposed above the first boom and having inner and outer ends, second sliding pivot means mounting the inner end of said second boom on said frame for swinging the second boom about a third horizontal axis parallel to the first and second horizontal axes, and for sliding movement in a second direction parallel to the first direction, third hydraulic ram means engaged between the frame and second boom for raising and lowering the outer end thereof, link means engaged between the frame and second boom for constraining the latter against swinging movement other than that in which the outer end thereof moves upwardly and downwardly along the same straight line of movement of the outer end of the first boom, means on the outer end of the second boom for supporting a roof plate thereon, including a platform having therethrough an aperture for permitting passage therethrough of a rock drill or anchor bolt engaged in said drill chuck means, a support for said platform, and means mounting said support on the outer end of said boom for pivoting about a horizontal axis transverse to the length of the boom and parallel to the first and second horizontal axes, means connected between said frame and support for maintaining the latter in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the direction of sliding of said second sliding pivot means, and rotary bearing means mounting said platform on said support for rotation of said platform about a second vertical axis. 